5 ways to integrate gamification in your classroom

Key points:

Incorporating game elements into lessons helps students feel more motivated and excited to participate. As a fourth grade teacher, I've seen how gamification can transform a regular lesson into something my students look forward to.

“Games are among the favorite activities of children, especially primary school students. Introducing games into the classroom can engage students in ways that conventional methods often fail to do” (Zhang & Crawford, 2023, p. 6219).

“Several empirical studies have confirmed that students in gamified learning environments achieve higher levels of motivation and cognitive engagement compared to those in traditional classroom environments” (Dehghanzadeh et al., 2024, p. 36).

Here are five ways to integrate gamification into your classroom, using tools like Quizizz, Gimkit, Quizlet, and Blooket.

1. Quizizz: turn assessments into fun competitions

questionnaire It's my top choice for a gamification platform. It allows you to create or search for pre-made question sets and host a variety of games that students can join. Students answer multiple choice questions on their devices while viewing funny memes, leaderboards, and progress bars. Other question types include fill in the blank, true or false, drag and drop, and matching. I use Quizizz for everything from reviewing Greek and Latin roots to preparing for the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA).

For example, before a math test, I create a Quizizz game with problems that cover key concepts. Students answer the questions and the leaderboard keeps them excited without putting too much pressure on anyone. “The competitive environment that Quizizz offers fosters a sense of motivation and engagement that is linked to better performance and higher test scores” (Zhang & Crawford, 2023, p. 6230). I've seen this first hand!

Quizizz allows for both live games and assignments, so students can practice at their own pace. The free version offers many features, including data tracking that can inform instructions. When students get a question wrong, they see the correct answer and have the option for Redeem Questions, giving them another opportunity to learn from their mistakes. “By offering immediate feedback and engaging students through game elements, Quizizz promotes an active learning environment where students are motivated to learn from their mistakes” (Zhang & Crawford, 2023, p. 6229).

2. Gimkit – Create collaboration while earning rewards

accessory kit It is another fun platform to learn games. Students answer questions to earn virtual currency, which they can use to purchase upgrades or power-ups. This element of choice gets students involved in the activity.

I've used Gimkit to review math and science. After selecting a “Kit” to host, students join the game with a displayed code. My students were hooked from the beginning. We played “Don't Look Down,” where each student's character runs to jump up small platforms without falling. However, characters can only move so far before they run out of energy, requiring students to answer more questions correctly to continue. “Empirical research has shown that students in gamified classrooms tend to participate more actively in lessons, leading to better academic performance and knowledge retention” (Dehghanzadeh et al., 2024, p. 39).

While attractive, the free version of Gimkit is quite limited. After a few weeks, the game “Don't Look Down” was blocked and another game replaced it. This is a case where the paid version offers many more features than the free one.

3. Quizlet: Gamified flashcards for independent or group practice

questionnaire is widely known for its flashcards, but its gamified feature, Quizlet Live, is what I enjoy the most. Students are grouped into teams and work together to match terms and definitions or answer questions.

When studying vocabulary words, I used Quizlet Live to make the practice more interactive. Each group member's device displayed different options, requiring students to communicate and decide together. Watching them support each other as they raced to finish the game was exciting and heartwarming. A new feature now allows the game to continue until the top three teams finish, making it more inclusive for everyone involved. “Gamification, when combined with personalized learning approaches, fosters greater student satisfaction and greater learning effectiveness in K-12 environments” (Dehghanzadeh et al., 2024, p. 38).

4. Blooket – Create variety with interactive game modes

bloocket It serves as a gaming hub where teachers can create or find sets of questions that students play in formats like tower defense, a cafe simulation, or a classic trivia battle. Variety keeps students interested because each game offers a different experience.

During a social studies unit on the United States government, I used a Blooket set of 30 review questions about branches of government and elected officials. I ran several games of the same set of questions and the variety kept the students excited throughout. Blooket even provides a helpful preview for each game mode, suggesting the difficulty, duration, and skills required.

5. Connections: Make meaningful links between concepts

Inspired by the popular New York Times game. ConnectionsThis activity allows students to group related terms into categories. Can create your own connection sets to align with your lesson objectives, making it an interactive way to review key ideas.

For example, I used Connections to review math and social studies vocabulary. I created sets with terms like numerator, denominator, mixed number, fraction bar and another with perimeter, area, square unit, rectangle. Students grouped terms into meaningful categories and discussed their reasoning. Some even created their own Connection sets, adding another layer of participation. “When properly integrated into lesson plans, gamification can lead to improved problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and higher-order learning outcomes in elementary students” (Dehghanzadeh et al., 2024, p. 38) .

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